Suicide issue does not belong just to MISD

Stewart Doreen

Published 12:30 pm, Sunday, February 19, 2012

The Midland Independent School District is working hard to address the problem of rising teen suicides in our community. We learned this past week MISD's School Health Advisory Council is reviewing character-based suicide prevention programs, searching for that right vehicle to implement into the school system.

Superintendent Ryder Warren wants the council to come up with something that is right for Midland, saying, "We can buy a great program, but if it doesn't fit the kids, it's not worth it." He has asked the council for a recommendation by August so a program can be presented to the board at the beginning of the school year.

We applaud this effort at addressing the teen suicide problem in our city. The community has suffered through four teen suicides since the start of school, and it is time to deal with this disturbing trend.

MISD is taking this challenge seriously, and we commend Warren for taking a lead in this matter. It is absolutely correct that MISD do all it can to take preventative measures. MISD should be at the front of this effort and step forth with a plan to help halt the horrendous choice of suicide.

However, the problem of teen suicide should not lie solely on the shoulders of the school district. If we have a teen suicide problem, it ultimately is a problem for the entire community. We would like to see an even greater response from churches, law enforcement, businesses and parents in meeting the challenges we face.

One effort already has begun in the form of the Permian Basin Suicide Coalition. During its first meeting on Jan. 19, people representing the Midland and Ector County independent school districts, the Midland County Sheriff's Office's Mental Health and Crisis Intervention units, Palmer Drug Abuse Program and Odessa's Medical Center Hospital were in attendance.

We wish more community organizations would get involved, and we especially hope parents take a greater role. We think it always is the best policy for the family to assume some responsibility.

We still applaud any serious effort dealing with the issue of teen suicide and stand behind the current course MISD is taking. However, we can do more as a community, and we can show our teens that we take their pain and fears seriously.